LATAM Brasil has unveiled its special stunning Star Wars “Galaxy’s Edge” inspired Boeing 777-300ER.
Galaxy’s Edge is a new entertainment area inspired by Star Wars and is located at Disneyland in Anaheim and also at Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida.
READ: Vietnam Airlines pilots just seconds from touchdown fail to lower landing gear.
The crew of a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 failed to lower the plane’s undercarriage and were forced to make a missed approach in Melbourne today (September 19.) just 1000ft above the ground.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched an investigation into “an incorrect configuration incident involving a Boeing 787, registered VN-A870, flight VN781, operated by Vietnam Airlines near Melbourne Airport, Victoria.”
WATCH: Spectacular vision of a 747 waving goodbye!
The ATSB said that “during the approach to land, Melbourne Air Traffic Control advised the crew that the aircraft’s landing gear was observed not to be extended. The crew initiated a missed approach.”
The 787 was only 1500ft (500m) above sea level (ASL) when its crew initiated the go-around according to Flightradar24 data. Melbourne airport is 424ft ASL.
It said that as part of the investigation, it will “obtain information from the flight crew, and additional information as required.”
A report will be released at the end of the investigation.
However, should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify those affected and seek safety action to address the issue.
The aircraft was a 787-9 and it was operating a flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Melbourne.
Malindo Air has confirmed a data breach that saw passengers’ personal details — reportedly including passport details, home addresses and phone numbers — posted on data exchange forums last month.
The Lion Air subsidiary said it was aware that “some personal data concerning our passengers hosted on a cloud-based environment may have been compromised”
“Our in house teams along with external data service providers, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and GoQuo, our e-commerce partner are currently investigating into this breach,’’ it said.
“Malindo Air has put in adequate measures to ensure that the data of our passengers is not compromised in line with the Malaysian Personal Data Protection Act 2010.
READ: Qatar’s losses widen as it continues to defy blockade
“We also do not store any payment details of our customers in our servers and are compliant with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS).”
The airline said it was in the process of notifying authorities “both locally and abroad “ about the breach, including CyberSecurity Malaysia.
It was also engaging with independent cybercrime consultants to investigate and report into this incident.
“As a precautionary measure, we would advise passengers who have Malindo Miles accounts to change their passwords if identical passwords have been used on their other services online,’’ it said.
According to the South China Morning Post, the breach involved the information of millions of passengers of Malindo and Thai Lion Air.
There were also references to Batik Air, another Lion Air subsidiary.
The Post said four files, two belonging to Malindo and two to Thai Lion Air, were dumped online by a “dark web” figure known as Spectre.
The airlines join a growing list of carriers to have fallen foul of hackers in the recent times.
A number of airlines have been targeted by hackers in recent times, including Cathay Pacific and British Airways.
Business publication Forbes earlier this year reported a study showing cyber-attacks against passenger air travel rose by more than 15,000 per cent between 2017 and 2018.
Losses at Qatar Airways Group widened to a record $US639 million in the 2019 financial year as the airline grappled with global economic challenges and a continued airspace blockade it again slammed as illegal.
Qatar chief executive Akbar Al Baker attributed the loss, up from $US69m the previous year, to the loss of mature routes as well as higher fuel costs and foreign exchange.
QATAR Review: QSuite is a first-class act.
However, he said the underlying fundamentals of the business remained robust.
“Despite facing challenges that are unparalleled in the airline industry, I am very proud that we have grown our fleet, expanded our network and seen overall revenue increase to QAR 48 billion ($US13.2 billion), a rise of 14 percent,” he said.
“Passenger numbers are up, capacity as measured by available seat kilometres has risen and our cargo business is now the largest in the world.”
Despite the blockade by neighboring Arab states, Qatar launched 11 new routes during fiscal 2019 and Al Baker said he expected to serve more destinations in 2019-20.
The new routes bring the number Qatar has added since the start of the blockade to 31 to boost its network to more than 160 gateways around the world.
The blockade was imposed on June 5, 2017, and 2018-19 was the first full financial year to reflect its impact.
“Other airlines would have capitulated,’’ Al Baker said. “But not Qatar Airways.
“We, and the country we serve, chose to fight back against protectionism, bullying and aggression by growing our fleet, increasing our global and regional footprint and continuing our investment.”
The airline’s fleet grew by 25 aircraft and it welcomed its 250th aircraft in March 2019.
It still has options, letters of intent and orders for more than 300 aircraft worth more than $US8.5 billion to continue what it describes as its “ambitious but sustainable network expansion strategy”.
In terms of its investment strategy, Qatar added a 5 percent stake in China Southern Airlines in 2018-19 to a portfolio that includes investments in Air Italy, Cathay Pacific, IAG JetSuite and LATAM.
Qatar is not alone in its problems: all three major Gulf airlines have seen their wings clipped for as global growth has slowed due to factors such as US tensions with China.
Dubai-based Emirates Group in May reported a 44 percent fall in annual profit as it faced higher oil prices, a weaker US dollar and increased competition.
Abu Dhabi’s financially-embattled Etihad Airways lost another $US1.28 billion in 2018 but this was lower than the $US1.52 billion it lost in 2017.
Airbus has boosted its forecast of the number of new aircraft airlines and freight companies will need over the next two decades to 39,210, despite a slight downgrade in its traffic forecast.
This new prediction is slightly higher than its 2018 estimate of 37.400 aircraft while the projected annual traffic growth is down from 4.4 percent last year to 4.3 percent in the latest forecast.
READ: Delta looks to power planes using forest debris.
The increase will see the world’s passenger and freighter aircraft fleet more than double from almost 23,000 today to almost 48,000 by 2038.
The revised forecast reflects the manufacturer’s belief in the industry’s ability to survive short-term global shocks and its view more operators will choose to renew aircraft to take advantage of increased fuel efficiency to help meet carbon reduction goals.
It estimates some 8,470 aircraft in service today will still be flying in 2038.
Changes in technology and the way airlines are using aircraft have also prompted Airbus to change its segmentation to take into account range, capacity and mission type.
This means a short-haul A321 is considered a small aircraft while a long-haul A321LR or XLR can be categorized as medium. Similarly, the A330 can sit in the medium and large segments.
Of the new aircraft, Airbus predicts 25,000 aircraft will be needed for growth and 14,210 will replace older models with newer ones offering superior efficiency.
With the new planes will come new jobs and Airbus is predicting the need over the next two decades for 550,000 new pilots and 640,000 new technicians.
“The 4 percent annual growth reflects the resilient nature of aviation, weathering short term economic shocks and geopolitical disturbances,“ said Airbus chief commercial officer Christian Scherer.
“Globally, commercial aviation stimulates GDP growth and supports 65 million livelihoods, demonstrating the immense benefits our business brings to all societies and global trade.”
New Federal Aviation Administration chief Steve Dickson has vowedthat the 737 MAX will not fly again unless he would be happy to fly it himself and put his family on it.
Dickson, a qualified pilot who told CNBC he was heading to Seattle to review the Boeing changes and fly the MAX simulator with modified software himself, said there was no specific timeline for getting the grounded plane back into the air.
“We still have not seen the final systems description and safety analysis from Boeing,’’ he said in the exclusive CNBC interview. “We expect to get that in the coming days and then we’ll see where we go from there.
SEE latest picture of five 777Xs in a row.
The 737 MAX fleet has been grounded since March after two fatal crashes involving Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines that raised questions about flight control software that Boeing has since modified.
The crashes have spawned several investigations as well as more than 100 lawsuits on behalf of the families of the 346 victims of the two crashes.
They have also raised questions about Boeing and the FAA were too close and prompted other regulators to say they will independently review changes the MAX’s software and training.
Commenting on the suggestions other regulators would take longer the review MAX, Dickson said the process had been transparent and had involved an unprecedented number of international aviation certification safety authorities.
He said the FAA was working hard to ensure everyone was aligned.
“Ultimately, validating the work of other certification authorities is not anything unusual,’’ he said. “We do it with respect to other certifications and other jurisdictions around the world and I certainly would welcome that.’’
Dickson said he was qualified on the 737 as well as a number of other aircraft and he was anxious to get out to Seattle later this week “and see where we are and looking into the certification process’’.
“And I can guarantee you that the airplane will not be flying again until I’m satisfied that it is the safest out there,’’ he said.
The new FAA boss said there appeared to be a common thread between the Ethiopian and Lion Air crashes but it was important that people did not pre-judge the root cause.
He said the tragedies had provided a situation for the FAA to look at its processes, examine how they were executed and put in any appropriate changes.
On the question of whether the FAA and Boeing were too close, Dickson said it was important the two were able to collaborate and he did not think that “delegation per se as a concept is a bad thing’’.
“I think actually makes the agency a more effective regulator and it makes the manufacturer (a) more effective and safer manufacturer,’’ he added.
“But how it was implemented in this particular case, and in general, those of the kinds of things we need to look at to make sure that there aren’t gaps in the processes and to make sure it’s absolutely as tight as it can be.’’
On the question of convincing the flying public that the MAX is safe, Dickson said: “Certainly my job again is to make sure that we follow the process that the airplane is safe for us to fly not only in the US with US pilots but around the world.
“And as a pilot myself, I can tell you that I will not allow this airplane to fly unless I would fly it myself and put my own family on it. And that’s my commitment.”
Getting a bite in the Big Apple is set to become even tastier for JetBlue customers thanks to the airline’s first restaurant upgrade at its home T5 terminal at New York’s JFK International Airport.
The budget carrier announced plans to add seven new restaurants in the first major upgrade to the T5 concession program since moving into the bespoke terminal in 2008.
Also poised to benefit are passengers on partner airlines Aer Lingus, Hawaiian Airlines and TAP Portugal.
JetBlue’s “recipe for success” at T5 includes niche stores and restaurants that offer a taste of the carrier’s hometown all got their start in New York City.
READ: Virgin Atlantic opens up Brazil with GOL codeshare.
Construction will take place this over the US fall and will see JetBlue welcome Melt Shop, Otto’s Tacos, Ovenly and Shake Shack.
Also on the menu: T5 Chef’s Kitchen which will include to-go offerings from KorillaBBQ, The Little Beet and Lil’ Sweet Chick.
“We take our position as New York’s Hometown Airline seriously,” said JetBlue product development director Mariya Stoyanova.
“Rather than the typical chains, we offer customers traveling through T5 a real and delicious taste of New York from places that real New Yorkers frequent.
“ Besides wanting to showcase all that our birthplace has to offer, we remember being a New York start-up and are always looking to give back to the community that’s supported us from the very beginning.”
The new restaurants join existing offerings 5ivesteak, Artichoke Pizza, Deep Blue Sushi and Piquillo.
Other outlets offering a flavor of New York include Baked by Melissa, bar Veloce, Dylan’s candy bar and New York Minute.
JetBlue says it designed its T5 terminal from scratch to give customers “an amazing ground experience”.
It allows passengers to surf the Web for free and offers more than 30 restaurants and food outlets as well as more than 20 retailers.
The terminal was designed to complement the historic Eero Saarinen building (now the TWA Hotel) and hosts all JetBlue flights as well as those of its partners.
Delta Air Lines is looking into establishing a biofuels plant in Washington state that would use debris on forest floors to produce fuel for its US West Coast operations.
The US carrier is investing $US2 million to partner with Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels to look at the production of sustainable aviation fuel for its operations in operations Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
READ: Travel agent charged over scamming 42 million Delta points
Sustainable aviation fuels are still seen as a major weapon in global moves by the aviation industry to significantly cut emissions but there have been difficulties attracting government support.
Delta expects the feasibility study to be completed by the middle of 2020 at which point the carrier will evaluate its next move. If it proceeds, the first fuel potentially delivered by the end of 2023.
It says the project could provide 10 percent of its annual jet fuel consumption on the West Coast and could become a blueprint for future carbon reduction projects.
An added benefit, according to Delta management, is that the project would reduce wood residuals in forests. These can increase potential fire hazards and inhibit future tree growth.
Research at Washington State University has also demonstrated that using forest harvest residuals to create biofuel is also a job generator in the rural and timber-dependent regions of the Pacific Northwest.
“While Delta continues to take actions toward our long-term goal of reducing carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2050, fuel is a key area where we are examining opportunities to create real sustainability differences and drive accountability across the entire business as we lower our environmental impact,” said Alison Lathrop, Delta’s Managing Director — Global Environment, Sustainability and Compliance.
Delta says it attempts to become more sustainable have reduced carbon emissions by 11 percent since 2005.
It was the first and only U.S. airline to voluntarily cap carbon emissions at 2012 levels by purchasing carbon offsets ahead of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s global CORSIA implementation, which caps international emissions at 2019/2020 levels.
Other sustainability projects include recycling of aluminum cans, plastic bottles, cups newspapers and magazines as well as the removal of single-use plastic items, including stir sticks, wrappers, utensils and straws from its aircraft and Delta Sky Clubs.
In July, Delta flew the first of 20 carbon-neutral new aircraft delivery flights from the Airbus final assembly line in Mobile, Ala., utilizing biofuels and carbon offsets in coordination with AirBP.
Alaska Airlines has announced a sizeable expansion of service on the US West Coast that includes eight new routes between the Pacific Northwest and California starting early next year.
Most of the routes will be served by Alaska’s Embraer 175 jets with no middle seat, three classes, wireless streaming of entertainment and wi-fi available for purchase.
Alaska has also renovated its airport lounges in Anchorage, Los Angeles and Seattle and plans to open a new San Francisco lounge in 2020.
The new scheduled services link Spokane, Washington, to Los Angeles (two daily services) from January 7 and to San Francisco (also twice daily) from March 19.
They also connect Redmond/Bend, Oregon, to Los Angeles from January 7 as well as to San Francisco and San Diego from March 19.
Residents of Boise, Idaho, will get new twice-daily service to LA from March 19 while those in Missoula, Montana will be able to head to LA from the same date.
READ: Virgin, Qantas face off over Tokyo Haneda.
Finishing off the route expansion from April 21 will be a new daily service from Anchorage, Alaska, to San Francisco.
But like that advertisement with the steak knives, there’s more. Frequencies are also increasing on a number of routes..
They include an additional flight between San Francisco and Orange County form January 7 for a total of seven daily nonstops.
On March 19, there will be the addition of a second daily flight between San Francisco and Chicago O’Hare.
The San Diego-Orlando service on January 7 will increase from five times a week to daily and second daily flights will start from March 19 between San Diego and Boise as well as between San Diego and Santa Rosa,
Other increases include a boost from four to six flights a week between San Diego and San Jose from March 19 and a second daily flight between San Diego and Boston from May 21.
Here are our 5 most popular articles from the past week.
QANTAS 787: THE FASTEST 17 HOURS IN THE AIR
Perhaps the Boeing 787, with its lower pressure altitude and higher humidity, is a time machine. That is possibly the only explanation as to why a 17-hour non-stop flight from Perth, Australia to London’s Heathrow, passes so quickly.
GRAND BAHAMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT UNDER FIVE FEET OF WATER
According to Radar Box 24, Bahamas press is reporting Grand Bahama International Airport is under 5 feet of water.
AMAZING VIDEO OF INSIDE THE EYE OF HURRICANE DORIAN
This amazing video of the inside of the eye of Hurricane Dorian is from Severe Weather Europe. The video shows an exceptional stadium effect!
INCREDIBLE VIDEO OF 737 BATTLING SEVERE CROSSWINDS
This incredible video of a Boeing 737 battling severe crosswinds was captured by Aviation Daily.
AIR CANADA’S A220: GREAT, BUT WAITING FOR CABIN INNOVATION
When Air Canada starts operating its Airbus A220 aircraft (né Bombardier C Series), it’s aiming long and thin within North America. Air Canada seems to be using the A220 as something of a “tech shuttle”: routes announced are from Montréal to Seattle and from Toronto to San José, the smaller airport to the south and east of Silicon Valley.
